Mach-E Impressions from a Tesla owner

[HuntingPudel]

I agree, that was actually a point for me in comparing the two. The MME has like 4 shades of gray, 2 whites ??, black and red. I normally always buy blue vehicles.

I think the grabber blue looks nice, very different but is limited to only the GT and 1st editions.

The whites IMO are greys. I wanted a real white MME (like Oxford White) but no joy. Second choice would have been a sapphire blue similar to that TM3. Ford already has a similar blue on the F150 and some other models. Grabber Blue is more or less acceptable to me but I don’t love it. It is the least of all evils, so that’s the color I chose for my MME GT-PE.

Sponsored

 

[deadduck]

Overall, I don’t like the selections for color on the Mach-E. A color similar to this would be more to my liking, but that’s just me.

Yeah, the colors are never quite right. The same color, depending on the light, can go from amazing to bad depending on the light.

 

[snikt]

Unfortunately auto makers follow trends, and we're currently in the midst of a white-sliver-shades-of-gray-and-black trend. There are other colors available, but these are by far the most common when you look at the vehicles around you out on the roads.

Surely it can't be too much trouble to at least offer other paint colors though. Always thought white\silver\gray was boring and was never interested even through all of the trends.

Obviously a very personal choice though as I bet probably 80% of the Model 3s I see out there are white

 

[Mirak]

The whites IMO are greys. I wanted a real white MME (like Oxford White) but no joy. Second choice would have been a sapphire blue similar to that TM3. Ford already has a similar blue on the F150 and some other models. Grabber Blue is more or less acceptable to me but I don’t love it. It is the least of all evils, so that’s the color I chose for my MME GT-PE.

You’ll be happy with GB. It’s definitely attention-grabbing. In daytime, it’s the color of a blue peanut M&M. At night it seems iridescent. It’s FUN!

 

[Sam2084]

Which Tesla are you comparing to? I just got a M3 and also looked at the MME, would agree I think with everything you have listed.

It's brand new, but I think the fit and finish has improved over time. My M3 I picked up over the weekend has no paint issues, trim issues, gaps or anything

The thing about Tesla’s fit and finish isn’t that it’s always bad. Its that it has always been good AND bad. One car off the assembly line is immaculate while another has every issue that can possibly exist. Glad you got a good one. The model 3 is possibly the best EV out there for the money. If I wanted a sedan I might already have one.

 

[Orangefirefish]

The thing about Tesla’s fit and finish isn’t that it’s always bad. Its that it has always been good AND bad. One car off the assembly line is immaculate while another has every issue that can possibly exist. Glad you got a good one. The model 3 is possibly the best EV out there for the money. If I wanted a sedan I might already have one.

And that right there is manufacturing 101. Not how well you can make one thing but how consistently you can every single thing coming off the line, ie six sigma. If they’re consistently crappy you could make the argument that at least that’s what they’re aiming for but the fact that they’re all over the place is what’s concerning about Tesla.

 

[ARK]

Yeah, the colors are never quite right. The same color, depending on the light, can go from amazing to bad depending on the light.

Before the launch, there was lots of concern with Rapid Red. It frankly looked pretty bad in a lot of photos on the Mach-E, especially from the auto shows where it came off as sort of washed out.

But those comments disappeared when deliveries started - Rapid Red looks incredible on the Mach-E, a true red, a bright red. They need at least one other color like that on the Mach-E, for example, the First Edition Bronco’s Lightning Blue.

 

[EVS]

Why is there a start button? There’s no engine to start. This is an extra unnecessary step.

No offense but I find this comment (from many Tesla owners) quite silly and uneducated.
Have you ever wondered why there are TWO buttons on powered circular saws, pole saws and chain saws and even lawn mowers? Why isn't one button enough?

That's for safety. A motor vehicle can cause plenty of damage if it starts or stops by accident. I have only read so many stories of parked Teslas going and hitting other parked cars because someone accidentally turned on the cars with the cellphone in the pocket.

If someone doesn't have the patience or energy to take a second to push a button (like when one is fully intoxicated or an infant), should such person be behind the wheel of a motor vehicle?

 

[snikt]

No offense but I find this comment (from many Tesla owners) quite silly and uneducated.
Have you ever wondered why there are TWO buttons on powered circular saws, pole saws and chain saws and even lawn mowers? Why isn't one button enough?

That's for safety. A motor vehicle can cause plenty of damage if it starts or stops by accident. I have only read so many stories of parked Teslas going and hitting other parked cars because someone accidentally turned on the cars with the cellphone in the pocket.

If someone doesn't have the patience or energy to take a second to push a button (like when one is fully intoxicated or an infant), should such person be behind the wheel of a motor vehicle?

This isn't just a Tesla thing, no start button on a VW ID.4 either. I'm sure if the largest car company in the world gets it through their million safety checks and red tape then it's probably fine

 

[Forensic]

I like having the start button, part of the ritual of getting in and ready for a drive, but I especially like that there is a kill switch/easy way to tell if the vehicle is on or off.

Not sure why this gets as much flak as it does since it’s such a nothing step even if

No offense but I find this comment (from many Tesla owners) quite silly and uneducated.
Have you ever wondered why there are TWO buttons on powered circular saws, pole saws and chain saws and even lawn mowers? Why isn't one button enough?

That's for safety. A motor vehicle can cause plenty of damage if it starts or stops by accident. I have only read so many stories of parked Teslas going and hitting other parked cars because someone accidentally turned on the cars with the cellphone in the pocket.

If someone doesn't have the patience or energy to take a second to push a button (like when one is fully intoxicated or an infant), should such person be behind the wheel of a motor vehicle?

I understand where you’re coming from but I don’t think it makes a difference.

There’s literally nothing to start since there’s no engine. The car is always “on” but not in gear. Ford just has 1 extra step of pressing the start button too.

To drive the Tesla you still have to press the brake pedal and select a gear, same way as on any other car.

Tesla also has obstacle aware acceleration that won’t let you accelerate through your garage door from the standstill, in theory anyway. It will also automatically put the car in park if you get off the seat.

So personally, I think it’s just an unnecessary extra step and feels dated in an EV, but everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. End of the day it’s not a make or break feature anyway, I just thought it was a weird thing to have in an EV.

 

[Brofessional]

Nice to have the comparison from someone who has experienced both. I have not taken delivery of my MME yet, but since I have a strong desire to make sure everyone hears my opinions so I feel validated ? I'll contribute my 2 cents.

• Why is there a start button? There’s no engine to start. This is an extra unnecessary step.

• 
  I 100% prefer an on/off button. I don't want the car turning on if have to get something out of it. Extra step sure, but I prefer it.
  

  [*]The infotainment system on the Mach-E is terrible at worst and annoying at best. It’s slow to respond, laggy, and confusing to navigate through menus to find a simple setting. Tesla’s software is by far and away better in every regard.

  Agree. Tesla infotainment is probably best in class.
  

  [*]Phone key works about 70% of the time. It’s not perfect on the Tesla either but the Tesla works maybe 95% of the time.

  My limited experience with Teslas I have driven and Teslas owned by close friends is not quite that optimistic. PAAK is the most common issue I and those I know have experienced. MME likely isn't any better judging by the forums though. I assume there is also some variation with phone hardware.
  

  [*]The acceleration on the Tesla is better, smoother, and doesn’t let up as quick as on the Mach-E. The Mach-E throws you into your seat off the line but it quickly loses the oomph. Floor the Tesla at 60 and you’re thrown back into your seat again, not so much on the Ford.

  I assume a large part of this is the 1000 lbs or so weight difference, but I anticipate this is going to be where manufacturers compete moving forward. As range becomes an obsolete metric with improved batteries, efficiency and the weight reduction that comes with it is going to differentiate the driving experience between cars.
  

  [*]Steering wheel controls are overly complicated and not necessary.

  Hard disagree. When you frequently drive multiple cars from several different manufacturers, being able to see what you're doing is a huge plus.
  

  [*]Frunk release is an old-fashioned 2 pull release latch instead of a simple button or phone control

  Failsafe. Anyone who has hit a deer or something similar at near highway speed understands the remarkable amount of damage that can occur. Hood staying out of your line of sight when this happens is crucial.
  

  [*]Sentry mode and dash cam is such a common sense feature I don’t know why the Mach-E doesn’t support it since it has the hardware.

  100% agree.
  

  [*]Ford’s CoPilot 360 or whatever name they call it can’t currently compete with Tesla’s Autopilot, but maybe this will change once BlueCruise is released.

  CoPilot 360 is a safety suite, same as literally every other major manufacturer. It's not automation.

 

[Forensic]

Nice to have the comparison from someone who has experienced both. I have not taken delivery of my MME yet, but since I have a strong desire to make sure everyone hears my opinions so I feel validated ? I'll contribute my 2 cents.

• 
  I 100% prefer an on/off button. I don't want the car turning on if have to get something out of it. Extra step sure, but I prefer it.
  
  Agree. Tesla infotainment is probably best in class.
  
  My limited experience with Teslas I have driven and Teslas owned by close friends is not quite that optimistic. PAAK is the most common issue I and those I know have experienced. MME likely isn't any better judging by the forums though. I assume there is also some variation with phone hardware.
  
  I assume a large part of this is the 1000 lbs or so weight difference, but I assume this is going to be where manufacturers compete moving forward. As range becomes an obsolete metric with improved batteries, efficiency and the weight reduction that comes with it is going to differentiate the driving experience between cars.
  
  Hard disagree. When you frequently drive multiple cars from several different manufacturers, being able to see what you're doing is a huge plus.
  
  Failsafe. Anyone who has hit a deer or something similar at near highway speed understands the remarkable amount of damage that can occur. Hood staying out of your line of sight when this happens is crucial.
  
  100% agree.
  
  CoPilot 360 is a safety suite, same as literally every other major manufacturer. It's not automation.

You’ll definitely love it, it’s really a fantastic car. All the points I made were nitpicking, so don’t read too much about the negatives as they’re minor and most will probably be resolved with software updates.

 

[SnBGC]

I understand where you’re coming from but I don’t think it makes a difference.

There’s literally nothing to start since there’s no engine. The car is always “on” but not in gear. Ford just has 1 extra step of pressing the start button too.

To drive the Tesla you still have to press the brake pedal and select a gear, same way as on any other car.

Tesla also has obstacle aware acceleration that won’t let you accelerate through your garage door from the standstill, in theory anyway. It will also automatically put the car in park if you get off the seat.

So personally, I think it’s just an unnecessary extra step and feels dated in an EV, but everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. End of the day it’s not a make or break feature anyway, I just thought it was a weird thing to have in an EV.

I am not sure exactly how the Tesla system works. I think there is a pressure switch in the seat. Is that correct? When we test drove a Tesla, they didn't give us any key card or anything and they let us drive away. My wife and I drove around for a bit and then we pulled over to change drivers and we were stranded. The car wouldn't move or do anything useful. It was over 110 degrees outside at the time..... We had to walk back to the Tesla Store and tell them where they could find their car. Was there some other way to start the car that we didn't know about?

When driving a Tesla, how does the driver exit the vehicle while leaving it running still?
How do you sit inside the car without it automatically turning on?
I do both things often.

I like to leave the car running so the A/C can keep the interior cool. I do this while visiting my crews at job sites, checking the mail, loading or unloading supplies etc. I sometimes run inside the store and leave my wife in the car with the A/C running. Is that possible in a Tesla?

When cleaning the car, I like to leave it turned off so I can wipe everything down without changing any of my settings. Seems quicker and easier that way.

There were several reasons why I didn't purchase a Tesla. The lack of a start button was one of those reasons. So far, every EV that I have owned has a start button and I don't find it a problem or it doesn't seem dated to me. The Mach E is the first EV that doesn't have a lock cylinder in the door. That kinda makes me nervous but so far I've been dealing without it okay.

You are right about PaaK. I tried it out a few times and find it lacking. I prefer the fob anyway.....just wish it was smaller and thinner. Seems too bulky for what it does.

How did you like the A/C in the Mach-E? Here in Arizona the Tesla's struggle to cool the car but I haven't had any issues with the Mach-E. However, Ford has a really good A/C system so they perform even better when there isn't an ICE to compete with for heat exchanging at the radiator.

I did like the little graphic on the Tesla display that shows obstacles around the vehicle. The Mach-E has something like that too but you have to press a few buttons to get it up on the screen or get really close to something to trigger the sensors. Tesla's method is pretty cool and nicely done.

I really didn't like the frameless doors on the Tesla. They offer less crash protection and are more likely to contribute to road noise. The full frame doors on the Mach-E have 3 different sealing points I think so I prefer that method instead.

Overall, I think the Mach-E is a valid contender in the EV marketplace. There is a lot to like. Yes, some stuff that needs improvement but then we can say that about any car pretty much.

 

[snikt]

I am not sure exactly how the Tesla system works. I think there is a pressure switch in the seat. Is that correct? When we test drove a Tesla, they didn't give us any key card or anything and they let us drive away. My wife and I drove around for a bit and then we pulled over to change drivers and we were stranded. The car wouldn't move or do anything useful. It was over 110 degrees outside at the time..... We had to walk back to the Tesla Store and tell them where they could find their car. Was there some other way to start the car that we didn't know about?

When driving a Tesla, how does the driver exit the vehicle while leaving it running still?
How do you sit inside the car without it automatically turning on?
I do both things often.

They should have given you the "key" which is a credit card sized key that you use if you don't use PaaK. If they didn't this is akin to driving off in any other vehicle without the key, it might let you for a bit but it won't really work.

I'm not sure about the pressure switch, but the vehicle doesn't really fully turn on unless you press the brake. You can sit in it and listen to the radio and have the climate on or off all you want

 

[SnBGC]

They should have given you the "key" which is a credit card sized key that you use if you don't use PaaK. If they didn't this is akin to driving off in any other vehicle without the key, it might let you for a bit but it won't really work.

I'm not sure about the pressure switch, but the vehicle doesn't really fully turn on unless you press the brake. You can sit in it and listen to the radio and have the climate on or off all you want

Oh okay. So, one can clean the car and wipe everything down and as long as they don't press the brake then the car doesn't turn on? That works.

Yeah, they said there should have been a key card in the car but the person who previously test drove it must have removed it. They started the car from their phone and then let us drive off. Probably not the best idea.

When I first got my Mach-E and started using Paak....it was okay at first but I quickly reached the limitations of what that system is capable of. I wasn't easily able to let anyone else drive my car and that is a problem for me. If Ford were to give us a key card then that would be pretty cool.

Sponsored